Sewing machine capable of projecting a sample design

ABSTRACT

A sewing machine includes: a memory unit for storing design pattern information corresponding to different design patterns, and stitch type information corresponding to different types of stitch patterns; a selecting unit operable so as to output a control signal corresponding to a selected design pattern and a selected type of the stitch pattern; a processing unit coupled to the memory and the selecting unit, and responsive to the control signal from the selecting unit to output an image signal; and a projector receiving the image signal from the processing unit and operable so as to project an image corresponding to the image signal. The image shows a picture corresponding to the selected design pattern and having a contour formed by the selected type of the stitch pattern.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a sewing machine, more particularly to a sewing machine capable of projecting a sample design.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional sewing machine is generally controlled by a user to perform a stitching operation based on the user's experience in stitching. Accordingly, it may occur that patterns stitched on a workpiece are found undesirable. However, it is impossible to alter the patterns stitched on the workpiece such that stitching of desired patterns on another workpiece is required. Therefore, if a sample design can be provided as a reference prior to stitching, the abovementioned situation can be effectively avoided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sewing machine that can project a sample design as a reference prior to stitching a pattern on a workpiece.

According to the present invention, a sewing machine comprises:

a housing unit including a bed portion having a top surface mounted with a needle plate thereon, an upright column portion extending upwardly from the top surface of the bed portion and having a top end, and an arm portion extending laterally from the top end of the column portion to confront the bed portion and having a head disposed above the needle plate;

a stitching unit mounted on the head of the arm portion of the housing unit;

a memory unit disposed in the housing unit for storing design pattern information corresponding to a plurality of different design patterns, and stitch type information corresponding to a plurality of different types of stitch patterns;

a selecting unit mounted on the housing unit and operable so as to output a control signal corresponding to a selected one of the different design patterns of the design pattern information and a selected one of the different types of the stitch patterns of the stitch type information;

a processing unit disposed in the housing unit, coupled to the memory unit and the selecting unit, and responsive to the control signal from the selecting unit to output an image signal; and

a projector mounted on the arm portion of the housing unit, and coupled to the processing unit for receiving the image signal therefrom, the projector being operable so as to project an image corresponding to the image signal onto the top surface of the bed portion of the housing unit.

The image projected by the projector shows a picture corresponding to the selected one of the different design patterns of the design pattern information and having a contour formed by the selected one of the different types of the stitch patterns of the stitch type information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit block diagram illustrating the preferred embodiment of a sewing machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing the preferred embodiment when a projector thereof projects a sample design;

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view showing an example of the sample design projected by the projector onto a bed portion of a housing unit of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view showing another example of the sample design projected by the projector onto the bed portion of the housing of the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of a sewing machine according to the present invention is shown to include a housing unit 1, a stitching unit 2, a memory unit 4, a selecting unit 61, a processing unit 3, a projector 5, a display unit 7, and an adjusting unit 62.

The housing unit 1 includes a bed portion 11 having a top surface 110 mounted with a needle plate 111 thereon, an upright column portion 12 extending upwardly from the top surface 110 of the bed portion 11 and having a top end, and an arm portion 13 extending laterally from the top end of the column portion 12 to confront the bed portion 11 and having a head 131 disposed above the needle plate 111.

The stitching unit 2 is mounted on the head 131 of the arm portion 13 of the housing unit 1.

The memory unit 4 is disposed in the housing unit 1 (not shown in FIG. 2) for storing design pattern information corresponding to a plurality of different design patterns, such as flower and heart patterns, and stitch type information corresponding to a plurality of different types of stitch patterns, such as a linear stitch, a saw-tooth stitch, a lock stitch, etc.

The selecting unit 61 is mounted on the arm portion 13 of the housing unit 1, and is operable so as to output a control signal corresponding to a selected one of the different design patterns of the design pattern information and a selected one of the different types of the stitch patterns of the stitch type information. In this embodiment, the selecting unit 61 includes a keypad having a plurality of operating keys 611.

The processing unit 3 is disposed in the housing unit 1 (not shown in FIG. 2), is coupled to the memory unit 4 and the selecting unit 61, and is responsive to the control signal from the selecting unit 61 to output an image signal.

The display unit 7, such as a liquid crystal display, is mounted on the arm portion 13 of the housing unit 1, and is coupled to and is controlled by the processing unit 3 for displaying the different design patterns available for selection and the different types of the stitch patterns available for selection, and for indicating the selected one of the different design patterns of the design pattern information and the selected one of the different types of the stitch patterns of the stitch type information, for example, such as by marking or underlining.

The projector 5 is preferably mounted on the head 131 of the arm portion 13 of the housing unit 1, is disposed behind the stitching unit 2, and is coupled to the processing unit 3 for receiving the image signal therefrom. The projector 5 is operable so as to project an image corresponding to the image signal onto the needle plate 111 on the top surface 110 of the bed portion 11 of the housing unit 1. In other embodiments, the projector 5 can be mounted on the arm portion 13 of the housing unit 1 such that the projector 5 projects the image corresponding to the image signal from the processing unit 3 onto the top surface 110 of the bed portion 11 of the housing 1 but not on the needle plate 111. Since the feature of the invention does not reside in the configuration of the projector 5, which is conventional, details of the same are omitted herein for the sake of brevity.

The image projected by the projector 5 shows a picture serving as a sample design, corresponding to the selected one of the different design patterns of the design pattern information, and having a contour formed by the selected one of the different types of the stitch patterns of the stitch type information.

The adjusting unit 62 is mounted on the arm portion 13 of the housing unit 1, is coupled to the processing unit 3, and is operable so as to output a control signal to the processing unit 3. The processing unit 3 is responsive to the control signal from the adjusting unit 62 to cause the projector 5 to project the image with a size corresponding to the control signal from the adjusting unit 62.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate respectively two examples of the sample design 20, 20′ projected by the projector 5. In the sample design 20 of FIG. 3, an irregular pattern is used as the selected design pattern while a linear stitch is used as the selected type of the stitch pattern. In the sample design 20′ of FIG. 4, a heart pattern is used as the selected designed pattern while a saw-tooth stitch is used as the selected type of the stitch pattern.

It is noted that, if a workpiece 10 to be stitched, such as a piece of cloth, is placed on the needle plate 111 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), the sample design projected by the projector 5 is shown on the workpiece 10 that can be used as a reference prior to stitching of the workpiece 10.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A sewing machine comprising: a housing unit including a bed portion having a top surface mounted with a needle plate thereon, an upright column portion extending upwardly from said top surface of said bed portion and having a top end, and an arm portion extending laterally from said top end of said column portion to confront said bed portion and having a head disposed above said needle plate; a stitching unit mounted on said head of said arm portion of said housing unit; a memory unit disposed in said housing unit for storing design pattern information corresponding to a plurality of different design patterns, and stitch type information corresponding to a plurality of different types of stitch patterns; a selecting unit mounted on said housing unit and operable so as to output a control signal corresponding to a selected one of the different design patterns of the design pattern information and a selected one of the different types of the stitch patterns of the stitch type information; a processing unit disposed in said housing unit, coupled to said memory unit and said selecting unit, and responsive to the control signal from said selecting unit to output an image signal; and a projector mounted on said arm portion of said housing unit, and coupled to said processing unit for receiving the image signal therefrom, said projector being operable so as to project an image corresponding to the image signal onto said top surface of said bed portion of said housing unit; wherein the image projected by said projector shows a picture corresponding to the selected one of the different design patterns of the design pattern information and having a contour formed by the selected one of the different types of the stitch patterns of the stitch type information.
 2. The sewing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display unit mounted on said housing unit and coupled to and controlled by said processing unit for displaying the different design patterns available for selection and the different types of the stitch patterns available for selection, and for indicating the selected one of the different design patterns of the design pattern information and the selected one of the different types of the stitch patterns of the stitch type information.
 3. The sewing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said display unit includes a liquid crystal display.
 4. The sewing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selecting unit includes a keypad having a plurality of operating keys.
 5. The sewing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an adjusting unit mounted on said housing unit, coupled to said processing unit, and operable so as to output a control signal to said processing unit, said processing unit being responsive to the control signal from said adjusting unit to cause said projector to project the image with a size corresponding to the control signal from said adjusting unit.
 6. The sewing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said projector is mounted on said head of said arm portion of said housing unit so that the image corresponding to the image signal is projected by said projector onto said needle plate on said top surface of said bed portion of said housing unit. 